Russell Brand Convicted of Rape and Three Sexual Assaults in London Trial

Russell Brand was convicted on November 5, 2026, of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London. The 51-year-old comedian and actor was found not guilty of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for eight and a half hours.

The offences dated from 2004 to 2009 and involved four women, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. Brand was convicted of raping a 21-year-old fan after meeting her at a stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009. He was also found guilty of groping an MTV worker at a bar in central London in 2004, kissing and groping a Capital Radio worker in a corridor in 2005, and sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker in 2009 after insisting she give him a massage.

Judge Mr Justice Joel Bennathan told Brand that the verdicts meant a custodial sentence of some length would result and that he would be sentenced on Monday, November 9. Brand was remanded in custody. He stood upright in the dock as the verdicts were read and closed his eyes when the rape conviction was announced. Before entering the dock he said “I love you” to his wife, Laura Gallacher, who attended the trial.

Senior Crown Prosecutor David Roberts of the London Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Unit said Brand was predatory and used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes. Roberts thanked the women for their courage. Prosecutors had described Brand as a ruthless sexual predator who pursued a stated goal of sex with 5,000 women. Brand denied all charges, maintaining that the encounters were consensual or that the allegations were fabricated.

The trial heard testimony from six complainants, all of whom have lifelong anonymity. None of the women knew each other. They came forward after a 2023 television documentary and press reports containing anonymous allegations by other women. It can now be reported that Brand is under investigation for further rape allegations by two additional women; he has already been questioned by police in relation to those complaints.

Brand rose to prominence in Britain as a stand-up comedian, television and radio host, and Hollywood actor. He appeared in films including Get Him to the Greek and Arthur and was previously married to singer Katy Perry. His public profile grew during the period covered by the convictions. The case is one of the highest-profile celebrity sexual offence trials in the UK in recent years.

The convictions close a chapter that began with the 2023 reports and the subsequent police investigation. Brand will be sentenced next week. The judge indicated the prison term will be significant. Further charges remain under investigation.